Dating back to Aug. 11, 2006, Chinese Taipei went 20 innings before scoring a run on Team USA. Playing in two different cities (Burlington, N.C. and Cary, N.C.) did not help much of the cause, either.
Team USA dominated Chinese Taipei for the first three games of the series beginning June 29, outscoring its opponent by 20 points before dropping the fourth game by one.
Dirtbags head coach Mike Weathers had his squad well-prepared for the Taiwanese, as Team USA opened the series with a 7-0 victory at Burlington Athletic Stadium. Dirtbag shortstop Danny Espinosa recorded five assists, but continued his struggles on offense with no hits in four at-bats.
Team USA allowed just three hits in the game.
In the second match up, the U.S. continued to control the tempo in Burlington, surviving a four-run eighth inning by Chinese Taipei to win 6-4.
The Taiwanese used the offensive onslaught in the eighth to tie the game heading into the final frame.
But two more runs and extra defensive efforts secured a two-game advantage in the series for the U.S.
Cary, N.C. seemed to be an equally suitable place for Team USA, if Burlington was not enough.
The third game was a scoring rampage, as five U.S. players scored two runs apiece in a decisive 13-2 win.
Team USA took an early 4-0 lead after three innings and defended effectively, as Chinese Taipei never threatened the lead.
However, the Taiwanese would respond by taking its first lead in the series, scoring a run in the first inning of the fourth game.
Team USA then scored two runs in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead going into the seventh inning.
A two-run effort by Chinese Taipei in the seventh frame would make the ultimate difference, as Team USA lost its second game and first of this series 3-2.
Espinosa, after seeing little action in the previous two games, had a putout and three assists in the loss.
Team USA will play one final game against Chinese Taipei in Kannapolis, N.C., before facing Japan July 4 in the 36th installment of the USA vs. Japan Collegiate Series, set to begin in Durham, N.C.
